Port Blair, July 13: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has demanded suitable compensation for victim families of yesterday’s fire incident where a fierce fire engulfed a residential house at Lambaline. This unfortunate incident has left many devastated and in urgent need of assistance.

In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament said that the fire has resulted in heavy financial losses, leaving the affected families in a state of despair. “They have lost their shelter, belongings, and a sense of security. The gravity of their situation demands immediate attention and support from the concerned authorities,” he said.

He requested the intervention of the Lt. Governor in providing suitable compensation to the fire victim family. This compensation would serve as a crucial lifeline for them to rebuild their lives and lessen their suffering during this difficult time.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Little Andaman, July 12: The Little Andaman unit of the Revenue Department has been grappling with staff shortages, leaving the positions of Tahsildar and Patwari vacant for the past two weeks following the retirement of the previous Tahsildar. The absence of these key officials has led to growing frustration among the residents of Little Andaman village, located in the South Andaman District. Despite persistent demands for the appointment of a Tahsildar and additional Patwaris, the situation remains unresolved.
Residents have expressed their disappointment, stating that despite the establishment of a Revenue office, they have been unable to access essential services due to the lack of a Tahsildar since the retirement of the previous incumbent last month.
The absence of a Tahsildar has caused significant delays and inconveniences for individuals applying for income certificates, OBC certificates, resident certificates, and other essential documents, as visitors are forced to leave without having their work completed. This has hampered the smooth functioning of the Revenue Department and caused frustration among the community.
Mr. M. Vasudevan Nair, the Zilla Parishad Member from Hutbay, shed light on the situation, remarking, “Since June 2023, no replacement has been appointed for the retired Tahsildar. As a result, many people have been affected, unable to obtain the necessary certificates. Visitors are left disappointed and frustrated by the lack of progress. In the absence of a Tahsildar, the Block Development Officer (BDO) assumed temporary charge, which is not enough.”
Residents of Little Andaman have been left in a state of distress, visiting the Revenue Department daily, only to return disappointed after waiting until evening. In light of these circumstances, the community is demanding immediate action from the district administration to appoint a regular Tahsildar for Little Andaman. They have also called for the appointment of at least two Patwaris to address the workload and ensure smooth operations within the department. Currently, only one Patwari has been assigned to perform the duties of both a Patwari and a surveyor but the lone Patwari is also on medical leave.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya

Diglipur, July 07: In a tragic incident, the lifeless body of Mr. Suresh Nair, a 53-year-old resident of Madupur, Diglipur, was discovered floating in the Naya Dera Nallah area of Madupur Ward Number 05 on Wednesday morning. According to local villagers, Mr. Nair was returning home after work on Wednesday night and had to cross the Naya Dera Nallah to reach his residence in Ward Number 5 of Madupur. Unfortunately, while crossing the nallah, it is believed that he accidentally fell into the water and drowned.
The following day, the local residents spotted the body floating in the nallah and immediately informed the Diglipur Police Station. The authorities were quick to respond, and the body was subsequently transferred to the Diglipur Hospital for further investigation.

John Wilbert &VIkramaditya
Laxmipur, North Andaman, July 06: The residents of Laxmipur Panchayat in the North Andaman region have been grappling with frequent and prolonged power cuts for the past week. This persistent issue has caused immense difficulties for the local residents.
Villagers have lodged several complaints with the Electricity Department, but the power outage problem has remained unresolved for an entire week. Frustrated by the delay in addressing the issue, residents of Laxmipur expressed their dissatisfaction in a conversation with Andaman Sheekha Daily. They emphasized that it should not have taken a week for the Electricity Department to rectify the power outage problem in the region. “While we understand that adverse weather conditions can affect power supply, a one-week response time is simply unacceptable,” said a villager.
Mr. Sujan Kumar Das, the Pradhan of Laxmipur Gram Panchayat, acknowledged that electricity problems have been a major concern in the region. The frequent power cuts not only disrupt daily life but also hinder network connectivity, making it challenging to contact hospitals or seek police assistance during emergencies. Mr. Das appealed to the electricity department to promptly address the power issues and urged the BSNL department to consider installing battery backups in the area.
When Andaman Sheekha Daily reached out to an officer from the Electricity Department, it was revealed that North Andaman has been facing electricity problems due to high wind speeds and heavy rainfall. The officer acknowledged receiving numerous complaints about trees and branches falling on electric lines, leading to power disruptions. He said that efforts are underway to resolve the power outage problem and restore stable electricity supply to the affected areas.

Port Blair, July 06: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration to provide special Buses for the candidates from Baratang Island so that they can reach their Combined Matric Level Recruitment Exam centers at Port Blair and Rangat on time.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament mentioned that the Combined Matric Level Recruitment Exam, is being organized by the Andaman Nicobar Administration on 9th July 2023 at various Centers across Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As this is a rare opportunity for recruitment in government jobs, thousands of candidates from all over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be appearing for this crucial recruitment exam.

He pointed out that nearly 150 to 200 students from Baratang Island are facing challenges due to connectivity issues in reaching their nearby Exam Center.

He added that as per information exam Centers for Baratang students have been allocated at Port Blair and Rangat region and both of which require special transportation arrangements as regular travel options are limited. “Moreover, it is difficult for these students to secure tickets for both destinations due to heavy demand of tickets by regular NH4 passengers, and there is a possibility that many of them may miss transportation for Port Blair and Rangat at the last moment,” he said.

Hence the Member of Parliament requested the Chief Secretary to provide special Buses for the candidates from Baratang Island.

For the candidates with exam Centers in Port Blair, he requested a dedicated bus service from Baratang to Port Blair, departing at 2:00 PM from Baratang to Port Blair on 8th July 2023. Similarly, for the candidates with exam Centers in Rangat, a bus service was required at 4:30 AM on the same day on 9th July 2023 from Baratang to Port Blair.

He also requested similar Bus Service at 5.30 PM from Rangat to Baratang on 9th July and at 5.30 AM from Port Blair Bus Terminus to Baratang on 10 July 2023, for Baratang Candidates for their return journey.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, July 6: A man’s life was saved after he allegedly attempted suicide by trying to jump off the second floor of a building on Deen Street, Junglighat. The incident occurred this morning at around 9:30 AM and was reported to the police control room by local residents.
Upon receiving the distress call, a team comprising police officers from the Aberdeen police station and firefighters from the Head Quarter fire brigade rushed to the scene. The man had climbed onto the second floor and positioned himself on the balcony, preparing to jump.
The police and fire brigade personnel engaged in an hour-long negotiation with the man, trying to persuade him to step back from the edge. However, the man appeared aggressive and determined to jump. At a critical moment, when he attempted to leap off the building, the vigilant fire brigade and police team swiftly intervened and rescued him from the perilous situation.
The man, who is reportedly under psychiatric treatment for his mental health conditions, was immediately taken to GB Pant Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
The successful rescue operation was carried out by a dedicated team led by Sunil Gupta, ASP, SDPO South Andaman, Inspector Girish Kumar, SHO of PS Aberdeen, and SI P.K. Jabbar. The 10 firefighters, led by Sub Inspector Devendra Singh and IRBN staff, demonstrated great courage and quick thinking during the crisis.